Darth Vader, pictured in The Empire Strikes Back, will appear in the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Photo: Supplied

Vader is to appear an in upcoming broadcast of the TV series Star Wars Rebels.

The series, an animated spin-off of the Star Wars franchise, airs on Disney channels around the world.

But the Vader scene is being specially crafted for a broadcast of the show's hour-long pilot episode in the US on the ABC network.

Vader's voice in the cameo will be provided by James Earl Jones, the actor who has voiced him since he first walked into frame in 1977, accompanying the boarding party of Imperial stormtroopers on the rebel blockade runner, the Tantive IV.

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In Australia, the show is screened by Foxtel, but free-to-air second broadcast rights are owned by Seven. It is unclear whether Seven could access the one-off special.

Although Star Wars Rebels is an animated series, it is testament to the power of the Star Wars franchise, and indeed the power of the character, that Darth Vader's return led Hollywood industry trade papers on Thursday.

"We wanted to do something special for the [free-to-air] broadcast," series creator and executive producer Dave Filoni said.

"We've added a scene which gives audiences insight into the [character of the] Inquisitor and includes a cameo by Darth Vader."

The Inquisitor is one of the major villains of the series, tasked by Darth Vader with hunting down the last few Jedi Knights who are scattered throughout the universe.

Star Wars Rebels is the first Star Wars project in some time set around the time of the "original" trilogy.

As a result, there has been an unusually high amount of media interest around the world.

It also comes as producer J. J. Abrams is working on a new Star Wars live action film, the highly anticipated Episode VII, set after the events of the original trilogy's third chapter, Return of the Jedi.

The Star Wars Rebels episode featuring the Darth Vader cameo will air in the US on October 26. An Australian airdate has not been announced.